6 Benefits of a Circular Economy

Don't have time to read the whole guide now? Download a copy now for instant access:

Download Now

What is a circular economy?

We all know the traditional way of doing things – create a product, use it, and then discard it for a new one. This 'linear economy' pattern is a one-way process, continually depleting our planet's resources. But, what if we told you there's a more sustainable, value-driven alternative? Welcome to the concept of a circular economy!

Visualize a world where we don't just toss out a product after its initial use. Instead, we extend its lifespan and reduce waste. A circular economy is about maximizing the potential of our resources and keeping them in constant use.

At Ingram Micro Lifecycle, we're actively participating in this transition, particularly with devices that hold our essential data and the gadgets that enhance our daily lives. We're committed to prolonging their life, reclaiming their value, and rehabilitating them to as good as new. We're promoting sustainability and responsible resource management. Join us, and let's shape a sustainable future!

In this article, we will explore the profound advantages of a circular economy, encompassing six key benefits. These encompass a wide range of positive impacts, including the reduction of carbon emissions, the mitigation of toxic waste, and the minimization of downtime.

Ingram lifecycle grap

Outcomes

Reuse – once restored to good working order, the device can be redeployed among your staff and taken back out into the field.

Resell – instead of reusing the repaired devices, we can sell on your behalf through our network of trusted third-party resellers to get a direct financial return.

Recycle – where the device cannot be restored, it will be broken down into salvageable components for either reuse in the restoration of other devices or recycled. Any residual waste will be processed in compliance with e-waste regulations.

 

quotations

What is e-waste? E-waste is an object that houses a battery or has a plug that has been discarded. This electronic waste is toxic or hazardous to the environment if left to decay and break down.

The Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Forum expects that by 2030, 74 million tonnes of e-waste will have been produced globally – that’s equivalent to the weight of 7,326 Eiffel Towers.

The benefits of a circular economy

1. CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS

Consider the production levels required to manufacture a new device and the logistics behind it to get all the componentry together and shipped out to the end user.

 

quotations

The World Economic Forum (WEF) reported that manufacturing technology contributed to over half of the world’s CO2 emissions.

 

questionBy extending the lifecycle of technology when it becomes obsolete, the amount of new technology required and therefore production will decrease, cutting carbon emissions.

 

quotations

The Shift Project estimates that it takes 80 times more energy to produce 1g of smartphone than 1g of car.

benefits
benefits-2-695x925

2. REDUCING TOXIC WASTE

A lot of e-waste is processed incorrectly, by open-air burning, through acid baths, and via personal handling of contaminants.

This releases harmful substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Sustained human contact with these can cause neurological damage and cancer, and CO2 is released into the atmosphere.

quotations

According to PACE (Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment), e-waste makes up 2% of overall solid waste, which is equivalent to 70% of total hazardous waste.

question

Extending the lifecycle of devices will ease the pressures on e-waste processing facilities, remove the burden of informally handling it, and encourage recycling or safe destruction.

Salvaging parts of truly obsolete technologies and reusing them to extend the life of other devices will also decrease the number of materials going to waste.

3. RESOURCES

Manufacturing puts a strain on natural resources. With finite resources diminishing, harvesting reusable parts of obsolete technologies will ease some of this pressure. For example, due to the refining process, the precious metals found in printed circuit boards (PCBs) are 10 times more abundant than in the natural ores they were mined from.

 

quotations

The WEF reported in 2019 that over 92 billion tonnes of materials had been extracted and processed by the whole manufacturing industry.

 

question

Recycling tech allows some valuable raw materials such as indium, cobalt, and neodymium to be harnessed – these would otherwise be lost through e-waste and sourcing the raw replacements would add to GHG.

Ingram Micro Lifecycle will produce data demonstrating carbon emissions reductions and materials recycled/ reused for inclusion within Board or company reports, enabling businesses to meet their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets.

4. VALUE RETURN

With the environmental and economic benefits of extending the lifecycle of devices, there’s a huge opportunity in securely wiping devices that are perceived as obsolete to assess for value.

 

question

Going through the repair and refurbish process will restore the condition of the device and increase its value, making it suitable for resale, thus recovering more value.

 

quotations

Waste Aid reported that in 2023 the value of the recommerce market is expected to increase to $51 billion.

benefits-3-695x925

The value Ingram Micro Lifecycle obtained from reselling technology can be used by you to funnel back into other business functions or bolster the data security budget. Alternatively, you could consider donating this to a charity.

5. REDUCING DOWNTIME

One effective strategy for reducing downtime in businesses is to maintain a stock of refurbished devices. This ensures that an immediate replacement can be sent to employees when a faulty device is identified.

Meanwhile, the faulty device can be swapped and returned for screening and repair. This approach is advantageous for both on-site and remote workers, as it minimizes delays associated with sourcing replacements or waiting for device repairs.

By having a ready stock of devices on-hand, businesses can streamline their operations and minimize disruptions caused by device failures.benefits-4-2075x571

6. CONFIGURED AND UPDATED

As part of our meticulous process, we will ensure that the operating system of the device is up-to-date, incorporating the latest software updates.

We take pride in thoroughly configuring the devices to meet your specific prerequisites, including the installation of required apps and software.

Additionally, we can implement measures to block specified web addresses, ensuring a tailored and secure user experience.

Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we strive to provide you with a seamless and customized service.

Ingram Micro Lifecycle can provide warehousing for your assets. Our bespoke inventory tracking system, BlueIQ, enables enterprises to see a list of devices and request assets to be issued to employees. Alternatively, devices can be sent to your own facilities when they’ve been issued a Blancco security report guaranteeing they’ve been cleared of data. Our software is designed to fully integrate with ServiceNow, giving you one log-in for all features and full transparency on historic and current devices.

quotations

The European Commission estimated that a circular economy could save the European Union around EUR600 billion. The concept can be applied to many industries, not just technology.

 

Ingram Micro Lifecycle has the infrastructure and agility to enable enterprises to adopt a circular economy approach within their IT estate.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your device usage and how we can return value and save costs while making your company more sustainable.

benefits

How Ingram Micro Lifecycle enables a circular economy

A division of Ingram Micro, the world’s largest distributor of computing and technology products, Lifecycle became a natural extension to address a growing need.

Technology is intertwined with our lives and the volume of hardware in existence is growing.

At the start of 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users globally – this adds unsustainable pressure on the economy and the environment.

Ingram Micro Lifecycle addresses this by enabling a circular economy for their customers.

Ingram Micro Lifecycle's role

These services fit into three key processes: reuse, resell, and recycle. In the first instance, we will compliantly wipe all devices of data, where relevant. Ingram Micro Lifecycle can provide an uplift of your devices, wherever they are – be it in an office or with a remote worker.

Assessment is conducted to ascertain the condition of the devices and their potential value. Devices that are to be reused or resold will undergo a repair and refurbishment programme. The battery life and cosmetics will be restored, along with any components that need replacing.

Download the Guide to 6 Benefits of a Circular Economy

Ready to talk about your IT infrastructure and find a trusted partner to de-risk and reward your process? Get in touch for a demo.

Get in Touch